MENLO PARK, Calif. — During the last week of September, Sea Otter Awareness Week focuses public attention on sea otters, while serving to promote various conservation programs and research activities. These research activities include studies of nearshore marine ecosystems that are facing unprecedented challenges, both regionally and globally, with environmental threats coming from adjacent land areas and oceans. On September 27th the U.S. Geological Survey will have a lecture featuring USGS research wildlife biologist James Bodkin, talking about how sea otters are helping scientists in studies of ocean vitality – from kelp forests to fisheries.